Calgary to Vancouver: A Rocky Mountain Adventure

Starting your Canadian road trip in Calgary is a fun way to get going. This city was built on oil money and has a touch of the wild wild west about it, tempered with emerging and interesting dining and cultural scenes. No longer the bold and brash urban explosion it once was, Calgary has found its feet as a great Canadian destination.

Calgary

The CBD might be the city centre, but it is the inner suburbs and neighbourhoods which offer the hidden gems of Calgary. Visit the many restaurants, bars and boutiques of 17th Avenue and Mission, the diverse eateries of Forest Lawn, the eclectic Inglewood and “little Italy” in Bridgeland. Prince’s Island Park in the Bow River offers some greenery, and Calgary Tower views of the city and surroundings.

Perhaps the most famous rodeo in the world, the Calgary Stampede takes place at the Stampede grounds in Victoria Park every July. If you can plan your trip around this event, we recommend you do - it attracts more than one million punters each year and features not only rodeo events but a parade, concerts, carnival rides, food stalls, agricultural competitions and a First Nations exhibition. If you are hoping to catch the Stampede, make sure to book your RV rental early as all visitor services tend to sell out for that period!

Families in Calgary have myriad options for things to do. Chief amongst these are the Calgary Zoo, the second-largest in Canada with more than a thousand animals hailing from all over the globe. Older kids (and parents) might also enjoy Heritage Park, one of the biggest living historical villages in North America. The park spreads over 66 acres of land and boasts a working steam engine, historical exhibits, a candy store, an old-fashioned amusement park and a paddlewheel boat.

Calgary’s many attractions could easily keep you interested for a few days - but remember that even better things await you on the road! Pick up your RV rental in Calgary and start moving to find out just what they might be.

Banff

The Trans-Canada highway heads westwards out of Calgary, across the plains and into the mountains without much mucking around. The famously beautiful mountain resort of Banff is just an hour and a half into the journey, a perfect stopping place - and you might want to stop for a few hours or even a few days to take it all in.

The town is a centre of activity for all the things to do and see in Banff National Park, as well as a destination in its own right. Small, walkable and charming, it offers the quintessential picture-postcard views of quaint buildings with a stunning mountain backdrop, perfect in both winter and summer. Close by you can visit the Banff Upper Hot Springs, a historic bathhouse, or take a ride on the Banff Gondola which might just blow your mind with the vistas it offers. The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies is another great spot, and has entertainment for the whole family with a range of interactive exhibits and events. Head out of town a little to see Lake Minnewanka, or take advantage of the many walking trails and outdoor activities in the area.

Adventure seekers can make Banff their base to enjoy the myriad recreation opportunities in Banff National Park. Hiking, fishing, mountain biking, horseback riding, canoeing and more are all available, whether you opt for a guide or rent gear and go it alone. Not thrilling enough? You can really get the adrenaline racing with some white water rafting or skydiving. Winter brings a host of different but equally great things to do, skiing at the top of the list. There are five world-class ski hills within a 40 minute drive: Sunshine Village, Banff Mount Norquay, Lake Louise, Nakiska and Fortress Mountain. Dogsledding is another favourite, and operators like Howling Dog Tours provide a fun and memorable snowy experience.

Castle Mountain

Tiny Castle Junction has a campground and some lodges for those travellers who want to visit the area around the distinctive craggy Castle Mountain which is within sight of the village. We mention it because it is a good spot for keen hikers - the trailheads for hikes to Silverton Falls and Rockbound Lake are both located there.

Continue on the Trans-Canada Highway heading northwest and you’ll soon arrive in yet another pretty mountain town: Lake Louise.
 

It’s all national parks, all the time on this leg of the road trip, which passes through the rest of Banff National Park and into Jasper National Park to the north, another area of incredible natural beauty. With more than four hours’ driving time, this is a long one - but there are very few spots of civilizations along the way to slow you down, just a whole lot of amazing things to see out the windscreen of your motorhome.

Lake Louise

In the pretty Bow River valley on the Trans-Canada Highway lie Lake Louise the waterway and Lake Louise the small town. Get off the highway and spend some time with both - you won’t regret it! Lake Louise township lies along the river close by the main road, and there is a ski resort five minutes’ drive to the northeast. Five minutes of driving in the other direction will get you to the turquoise-tinted lake and the castle perched on its shore.

Though charming, the town does not have all that much to offer beyond the basic services - you’ll probably want to head to the slopes if this is a skiing road trip, or to the lake in the summertime. Whichever you are planning to do, you can base yourself at the Lake Louise Campground on Fairview Road if you intend to stay a night.

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is the aforementioned castle on the lake, and the imposing building in conjunction with its ridiculously pretty mountain setting makes for a compulsory photo op. You might want to stop for a memorable lunch overlooking the lake before exploring the area on foot or by boat. Here, you are still in Banff National Park, so the typical range of outdoor recreation activities are available - you can take your pick! Tourism operators and rental services offer all you need for your favourite type of adventure, be it walking, riding, floating or flying.

Icefields Parkway

North of Lake Louise, you will get off the Trans-Canada and onto Highway 93 north, otherwise known as the Icefields Parkway. This stretch of road is known as one of the most beautiful on the planet, taking in mountain peaks, gorgeous river valleys, waterfalls and the amazing Columbia Icefield.

Although just driving on the road itself offers plenty of scenery, you are sure to want to stop and take it in, up close and personal. Pull over, make a cup of tea in the RV and enjoy being in one of the world’s most beautiful places: the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site. Wildlife spotting opportunities abound, and travellers might see bears, bighorn sheep, caribou, goats, elk and other mountain inhabitants. Hiking is another way to get amongst the vast and awe-inspiring nature, or snowshoeing in the winter months. Favourite trails include the Parker Ridge Trail, the Bow Summit Lookout and Helen Lake which is found just north of Lake Louise.

Saskatchewan River Crossing is a tiny blip on the map along the parkway, but one of the only spots of civilization you’ll come across on this stretch, so you might want to fuel up there if you’re running low!

The Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre is open only in the summer and is a great place to stop, especially for families. The small museum and discovery centre look at the natural history of the area and include a three-dimensional model of the ice field. Visitors can also depart on “snowcoaches” from the centre to get onto the glacier and also see it from above on the cliff-edge Skywalk walkway.

At the end of this beautiful stretch of road is Jasper, the last destination for this short leg.
 

Once you turn off Highway 16 on this leg, the Yellowhead Highway makes its way out of the foothills to lakeside Kamloops with some wonderful scenery, and don't forget to make some stops along the way to see the sights and maybe some wildlife.

Jasper

Less frequented and more remote than Banff, Jasper is otherwise similar to its southern counterpart, and also at the centre of a national park by the same name. The town and surrounds have a number of RV camping spots, so you can stay for a while and immerse yourself in everything that this unbelievable part of Alberta can throw at you.

Of course, the more intrepid and adventurous travellers will not lack for amusement in and around Jasper. Visiting the Jasper Adventure Centre on Connaught Drive is a convenient way to get started, as it offers a wide range of excursions in any season. Canoeing, whitewater rafting, snowshoeing, wildlife discovery tours, dogsledding and more are all available, offering plenty of ways to experience the wilderness that is Jasper National Park.

The Jasper Skytram can take you up, up and away for the best vistas over the mountains and valleys that you can get without a very long and steep hike. A “flight” in a gondola car takes seven minutes and brings you from 1304 metres above sea level to the Upper Station 2277 metres, where you will find a restaurant, a gift shop and bathroom facilities - if you can tear your eyes away from the view.

To get an overview of the town itself and its history, walk the Jasper Discovery Trail. It is an eight kilometre-long trail which includes a variety of educational boards, informative signs, some great views of the town, and a range of different environments - paved sections close to town, forested areas and some elevated sections with great views.

From Jasper, take the Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16) across the border into British Columbia and past Yellowhead and Moose Lakes to Tête Jaune Cache which lies at the junction with Highway 5.

Tête Jaune Cache

Officially an unincorporated rural area, Tête Jaune Cache is not much of a town but does have some interesting history. Its name is the French version of the highway which bypasses it - yellow head cache - and it once housed loggers, pioneers, trappers, foresters and other entrepreneurs as the head of navigation for many paddle steamers on the Fraser River.

Take the highway south to Valemount, where you’ll find a few more services to replenish your stores, and then enjoy the mountain scenery and small towns as the landscape slowly flattens out.

Clearwater

Where the Clearwater River converges with the North Thompson River is the town of Clearwater, a centre for outdoor adventure and often considered the gateway to the Wells Gray Provincial Park. It has a rich First Nations heritage as home to the semi-nomadic Simpcw Peoples, and there are aboriginal pictographs and archaeological sites in the region. There are a number of RV campgrounds in Clearwater and nearby which can accommodate you should you wish to stick around!

Many of the things to do which attract visitors to Clearwater are to be found in Wells Gray Provincial Park, and a lot of them centre around the multiple lakes. Fishing, canoeing, swimming, diving and rafting are all favourite pastimes. The park also boasts an extensive network of hiking trails which range from the 45-minute Trophy Mountain alpine meadows walk, to an epic trek along Skyline Ridge.

Barriere

A small and friendly community, Barriere is home to the North Thompson Museum where visitors can learn about the river valley region and its history.  Keen golfers will enjoy the beautiful Chinook Cove golf course 3 kilometres north of town, and there are a wealth of waterways nearby with some great fishing opportunities.

From there, it’s a short trip down the river valley to Kamloops!
 

It’s back on the Trans-Canada Highway for the first part of this leg, and then a winding journey on Highway 99 into the Pacific Ranges to what is arguably Canada’s most famous ski resort. You might think you’d be immune to spectacular mountain scenery at this point - but never underestimate Canada’s ability to constantly wow you.

Kamloops

This small lakeside city profits from lots of sunshine and friendly locals, making it a lovely stop on your Canada road trip. The long and narrow Kamloops Lake is a centre of action in the summertime, and the nearby Sun Peaks resort provides skiing in the winter. The city is known as a golfing destination, with 13 courses in the area, so if you like to get out on the greens, Kamloops might be a good place to find an RV park and stay a day or two.

After so much nature in the previous legs, you might be happy to find plenty of cultural activities here in Kamloops. The city museum has three floors of permanent and travelling exhibits, and the Western Canada Theatre, one of the leading companies in BC, has shows running throughout the year. Kamloops plays host to many events including a large number of sports tournaments - in fact it has cultivated a reputation as Canada’s “Tournament Capital.”

The younger travellers will likely love the Kamloops Heritage Railway. Spirit of Kamloops railtours include the ride, entertainment, drinks and snacks, lasting an hour to an hour and a half. In December, you can evoke that Polar Express feeling with a Spirit of Christmas railtour including hot chocolate and carollers, and around Halloween there are Ghost Train rides complete with characters and a chilling tale.

Cache Creek

The Trans-Canada Highway takes you past the end of Kamloops Lake towards Cache Creek, a town with a distinct western feel and surrounded by working ranches. It is steeped with history of the Cariboo, the intermontane plains region which was colonized very early on by pioneering European settlers. Call in to the historic Hat Creek Ranch to find out what life was like during the Gold Rush era.

Lillooet

Not long after leaving Cache Creek you will turn off the Trans-Canada Highway and onto Highway 99 which heads again into hilly territory. Near Seton Lake you will find Lillooet, a town occupying a stretch of flat land beside the Fraser River. It was once the largest settlement in British Columbia and the beginning of the Cariboo Trail.

In Lillooet you can explore some local history by taking a self-guided tour of the town’s “Golden Mile of History” along Main Street. There are 14 points of interest to be discovered, including old bridges, heritage buildings and more. Xwisten Experience Tours, based 6 kilometres north of Lillooet, offers tours of the traditional fishing grounds and an archaeological village site of the St’at’imc People, and includes an authentic BBQ salmon meal and a look inside a rebuilt pithouse.

Once you’ve seen what you want to see of small-town BC, get back in your RV and hit the highway. Your next destination is an exciting one!
 

The road which will take you on your way for this leg of the trip is called the Sea-to-Sky Highway, but you’ll be doing it in reverse, coming down out of the Pacific Ranges to meet the tributaries of the Pacific Ocean on which Vancouver is built. Just as scenic as previous parts of the journey, these final miles make an excellent last hurrah.

*If you're beginning your trip in Vancouver, find your nearest motorhome rental depot here. 

Whistler

If you’ve ever dabbled in snowsports, or even thought about it, it’s likely you have heard of Whistler. This mountain resort, overlooked by Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, is a favourite amongst snow bunnies thanks to its 8,100 acres of trails and runs over both peaks, buzzing après-ski atmosphere and myriad things to do during the “winter wonderland” period.

The summer is also fast becoming a popular time to visit Whistler - in fact, it’s really a four-season destination that you can enjoy during any month of the year. The spectacular Peak 2 Peak Gondola links Whistler and Blackcomb peaks and operates in both seasons to give 360-degree views over the village, the mountains, the glaciers and the forests. Other options for warm-weather Whistler fun include hiking, biking, fishing and wildlife encounters. Scenic tours by helicopter or floatplane are also available.

Some favourite scenic spots and easy hiking trails are those of Lost Lake and Alexander Falls. You can follow the Lost Lake Nature Trail right from town to the lake and around it, a five-kilometre loop. Alexander Falls require a bit of a drive south, and the viewing platform and picnic area are just 40 metres from Callaghan Road, near the Whistler Olympic Park.

It’s easy to find an adrenaline high in Whistler. The expert-level trails are a challenge for adventurous skiers and snowboarders, and heli-skiing will take it up a notch even from there. Ziplining happens year-round, and in the warmer months you can try out some white water rafting, ATV tours, rock climbing or jetboating. The ultimate rush comes with Whistler Bungee, BC’s highest year-round jumping venue with a 50-metre drop over the Cheakamus River.

Looking for a fun family day out? Whistler Tree Adventure Tours is a fantastic way to explore the area for fearless young ones - it’s a network of bridges, platforms, ziplines, swings and boardwalks suspended high above the ground. Courses are colour-coded for difficulty level. The towns’ friendly atmosphere and numerous entertainment options which can be tailored for all ages make it perfect for family groups. The Family Adventure Zone at the base of Blackcomb Mountain is a good place to start and houses mini-golf, a mini-luge and rock climbing walls.

You might be getting the idea that a day isn’t long enough to spend in this famously fabulous mountain town! With so many things to do in Whistler, you’ll probably want to stick around for a while and there are plenty of places you can do so. Whistler RV Park and the Riverside RV Resort and Campground are both great spots to consider - just make sure you call ahead and book your space!

Brandywine Falls

Not long after you depart Whistler, you’ll come across Brandywine Falls and Daisy Lake. The falls are spectacular at 70 metres high, and can be seen at great advantage from the viewing platform. Park at the signposted parking area and walk the 10-20 minutes to the first platform, then the short distance to the second to take in not only the falls but also the beautiful hydro lake. The Brandywine Falls Provincial Park also has a walkable section of the planned 180-kilometre long Sea to Sky Trail.

Squamish

Your road trip will meet the sea at Squamish, which bills itself as the “Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada.” Here you can add to mountain, river and forest escapades the possibility of exploring the waters of Howe Sound. Almost any outdoorsy activities you can think of are probably available in Squamish, but there are also some more sedate options. The West Coast Railway Heritage Park is a highlight for history buffs or trainspotters, and you can take a train tour of an underground mine tunnel at the Britannia Mine Museum just ten minutes out of town. Still can’t get enough of the scenery? Take a look at where the mountains meet the sea with a ten-minute ride up the Sea to Sky Gondola.

Once past Squamish you will leave the “sky” section of the highway and enter the “sea” part. Here Highway 99 hugs the coast of Howe Sound, offering coastal vistas and even a few beaches.

Vancouver

Your road trip finishes in Vancouver, the city that corners the market in cool. Sophisticated urbanity and hip cultural attractions mingle with a breathtaking natural setting to make this west-coast metropolis one of the world’s most livable (and visitable) places.

The CBD is the heart of Vancouver, but it has many vital arteries which pump plenty of life and character into the surrounding neighbourhoods. Gastown holds a lot of the city’s heritage, some fabulous architecture and a bustling Chinatown. Granville Island is home to the famous Public Markets, and the trendy West End gives access to the beloved Stanley Park as well as some inner-city beaches.

Eating and drinking are popular pastimes in Vancouver, and the city has some amazing restaurants ranging from casual eateries to fine dining. It is also known for its breweries, and you could easily spend a day or two visiting them all (just use public transport to do it). People watching on the Vancouver Seawall is an easy way to get a feel for the place.

There are many events happening all the time in Vancouver, from sports games to cultural festivals. Still have time to spare? The Vancouver Aquarium, boasting 9,000 water dwelling creatures, should also be on anyone’s to-do list; the next item should be the well-regarded Museum of Anthropology.

Vancouver and the surrounding area are wonderful for families, with plenty of options beyond the Aquarium. Young people might enjoy a ride on the SeaBus catamaran from downtown Vancouver to North Vancouver, the Kids Market on Granville Island, Kitsilano Beach, the interactive H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, the Greater Vancouver Zoo and Playland amusement park at the Pacific National Exhibition.

You might have plans to drop off your home on wheels before exploring the big city, but if you’d rather continue to use it as a home base there are a plethora of places to park it for the night in Greater Vancouver - the most central is Capilano River RV Park in Norgate. From here you may visit Abbotsford in your RV rental as it is only nearby. Whichever way you choose to do it, Vancouver makes an excellent end point for an epic Canadian road trip! You can take a short RV rental trip down to Langley from Vancouver if you want to stay close to the United States.
 
Expect the same quality service when you secure a motorhome rental from Toronto, or Montreal, or Vancouver, and even in different parts of the world.